MX2012004376A - Chalk box. - Google Patents

Abstract

A chalk box includes a housing with an opening and a rotatable reel disposed within the housing. An elongated line is arranged to be wound on the reel. A reel winder is arranged to rotate the reel to wind the line on the reel. A movable cover is mounted to the housing and is movable between an open position and a closed position, the cover when open permits a powder or a fluid marker material to be placed into the housing through the opening in the housing. The movable cover includes an elastomeric material enabling the cover to seal with the housing when the cover is closed to prevent leakage of the marker material at an interface between the movable cover and the housing. A releasable lock is arranged to releasably lock the cover in the closed position, the releasable lock being manually manipulable by a user's fingers to release the lock to permit access into the housing through the opening. The elastomeric material is overmolded onto and thus permanently connected to the relativel y rigid material of the movable cover.

Description

CHALICE BOX CROSS REFERENCE This application claims priority for Provisional Application No.

Series 61/475, 152, filed on April 13, 2011, the full content of which is incorporated for reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present description relates to a chalk box.

A chalk box is a device or apparatus used to provide chalk marks (lines) on a work surface, for example, a concrete surface. The chalk box includes a string or string on which chalk material (typically powder) can be provided. The chalk material is transferred to the work surface by picking / tapping the cord after it has been tensioned on the surface to be marked. The cord can be wound in the housing of the chalk box for storage. The chalk box stores the chalk material as well as the string, and can be filled with additional chalk material when the chalk material is finished.

The present disclosure provides improvements over the prior art of chalk boxes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION One aspect of the description relates to a chalk box including a housing with an opening and a rotatable reel disposed within the housing. An elongated cord is arranged to be wound on the spool. A reel winder is arranged to rotate the reel to wind the cord on the reel. A movable cover is mounted to the housing and is movable between an open position and a closed position, the cover when open allows a powder or marker-fluid material to be placed in the housing through the opening in the housing. The movable cover includes an elastomeric material and a relatively rigid material, the elastomeric material allowing the cover to seal with the housing when the cover is closed to prevent leakage of the marker material in an interface between the movable cover and the housing through the housing. opening. The elastomeric material is overmoulded above and thus permanently connected to the relatively rigid material of the movable cover. A releasable latch is arranged to releasably secure the cover in the closed position, the releasable latch being manually manipulated by the user's fingers to release the latch to allow access into the housing.

Another aspect of the description is related to a chalk box including a housing having an opening. A movable cover is fixed to the housing, the movable cover arranged to move between an open position and a closed position to selectively allow or prevent access to an interior of the housing through the opening. A rotatable reel is disposed within the housing. A roll cord has a portion thereof rolled onto the spool and another portion thereof extending through a hole in the movable cover towards the outer side of the housing. The opening in the housing is positioned and sized to allow the user to manually engage the portion of the cord wound on the reel through it when the cover is in the open position, the opening also allowing the chalk or other marker material to be placed inside the housing through it when the cover is in the open position.

Yet another aspect of the description relates to a chalk box that includes a housing with an opening. A rotatable spool is disposed within the housing and an elongated cord arranged to be wound on the spool. A reel winder is arranged to rotate the reel to wind the cord on the reel. A rotatable cover is mounted to the housing and is movable between an open position and a closed position, the cover rotatable having an opening therethrough to provide an outlet for the cord. The cover rotatable when opened allows a powder or a fluid marker material to be placed within the housing through the opening in the housing. A releasable latch is arranged to releasably secure the cover in the closed position, the releasable latch is manually manipulated by the fingers of the user to release the insurance to allow access within the accommodation.

These and other aspects of the present disclosure, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related structure elements and the combination of manufacturing parts and economies, will be more apparent under consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numbers designate corresponding parts in the various figures. In one aspect of the description, the structural components illustrated herein may be considered drawn to scale. It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the description. It will also be appreciated that the features of an aspect described herein may be used in other aspects described herein. As used in the specification and in the claims, the singular form of "a", "one", and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly stipulates otherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1A shows isometric views of a chalk box, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure; FIG. 1 B shows another view of the chalk box with the cover open, in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 shows a side view of the chalk box, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure; FIG. 3 shows a front view of the chalk box, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure; FIG. 4 shows a top view of the chalk box with a reel reel of the chalk box in an operating position, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure; FIG. 5A shows an exploded view of the chalk box, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure; FIG. 5B shows an internal view of a gear member arrangement that is rotatably attached to a spool reel (illustrated in FIG.5A), in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure; FIG. 6 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the chalk box with a movable cover mounted in a housing of the chalk box and movable between the open and closed positions by a user's hands; FIG. 7 shows an enlarged view of a projection formed in the housing and an opening in a tongue formed on the movable cover, and shown being moved to releasably secure the cover in a closed position; Y FIG. 8 is an approach view of the movable cover in a position secured or closed with the housing, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A chalk box 10 in accordance with an aspect of the description is shown in FIGS. 1A and 1 B. FIGS. 1A and 1B are isometric views of the chalk box 10 including a housing 12 and a movable cover 18 mounted on the housing 12. In FIG. 1A, a movable cover 18 is shown in the closed position, while in FIG. 1B the movable cover 18 is shown in an open position. In one embodiment, the movable cover 18 can be pivotally connected to the housing 12, although a sliding or rotatable cover is also contemplated. However, the movable cover 18 is interchangeably referred to herein as a pivotable cover 18. With reference to FIG. 1A, mounted on the outside of the housing 12 is a reel reel 16 arranged to rotate a spool reel 54 (shown in more detail, for example, in FIGS. 1 B and 5A) disposed within the housing 12. The reel winder 16 spool 16 in one embodiment is constructed with an elongated part 17, a handle 20 at one end of the elongated part 17, and a pivot structure 19 at the other end, with the mounting hub portion 26 of the pivot structure 19 shown in FIG. 1A. The pivot structure 19 further includes a cylindrical portion 27 attached to the mounting hub portion 26 on one side and a gear member 60 having teeth 63 on the other side (as best shown in FIG.5A). The elongate part 17 is pivotally mounted in the mounting hub portion 26 of the pivot structure 19 by a pivot pin 17a, such that the reel reel 16 can be moved from a rest position where a distal end of the handle 20 rests in a recess 50 in the housing 12, towards an operational position in which the distal end of the handle 20 is oriented away from the housing 12 (eg, as shown in FIG 3). As best seen in FIG. 5A, a housing cap 22 is attached to the housing 12 by a plurality of screws 22a-22c, but other mechanisms for fixing the housing cover 22 to the housing 12 (eg, a locking mechanism), as well as another number of screws It can be used.

As best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, for example, in one embodiment, the movable cover 18 includes an elastomeric material 45 that forms an elastic tongue 24 that can be stretched over a protrusion 36 in the housing 12, such that the protrusion 36 is received in a recess or opening 37 in the elastic tab 24 of the movable cover 18 to secure the cover in a closed position relative to the housing 12. The elastic tongue 24 is also referred to herein as a projection 24. The elastomeric material 45 of the cover 18 may be formed of rubber, or other types of elastic or elastomeric material including but not limited to polysulfide rubber, polyacrylic rubber, silicone rubber, other types of unsaturated rubbers, saturated rubbers including but limited to isopropene rubber, polybutadiene rubber, resilin, elastin, and the like, and combinations thereof. The engagement of the protrusion 36 within the opening 37 releasably secures the cover 18 in a closed position. As noted above, in this example, the projection 24 forms a manually engageable tab that facilitates a movable cover opening and / or closure 18. The stretchability of the elastomeric material 45 on the protrusion 36 is sufficient to prevent accidental opening of the cover. the movable cover 18, without the need for additional mechanism (s) to prevent such accidental opening of the movable cover 18. In one embodiment, the movable cover 18 is the only cover provided in the housing 12 for sealing an opening 40 within the which chalk marker material can be filled, and / or through which an interior portion of the housing 12 can be accessed by a user, as shown in FIG. 1 B. It is noted that in the chalk box 10, both (a) access to the rotatable reel 54 and (b) depositing the marker material within the housing 12 can be accomplished in a one step process of opening the movable cover 18. .

The opening 40 is shown, for example, in FIG. 1 B, wherein the movable cover 18 is shown in an open position. In one embodiment, the opening 40 is the only access for depositing chalk or marker material within the housing 12, and is large enough to provide the user with one or two fingers access to a portion of a cord 14 within the housing 12 wound in the revolving reel 54 (as best observed in FIG 5A). In one embodiment, the movable cover 18 rotates about one or more pivots 34, between the open and closed positions. The pivot 34 can be a hinge-type pin, a living hinge formed by the elastic or elastomeric material 45, or any other type of pivot or hinge. When in a closed position, the movable cover 18 seals with the housing 12 to prevent leakage of chalk or marker material at an interface between the movable cover 18 and the housing 12. The elastic or elastomeric material 45 forming part of the cover 18 facilitates This sealing function. The movable cover 18 includes a through hole or aperture 30 that provides an outlet for an elongated portion of cord 14 to extend out of the housing 12. In use the elongated cord 14 is roll-up and made of a material that facilitates material adhesion marker there to mark a surface.

The elongated cord 14 can be wound on the rotatable spool 54 (shown in more detail, for example, in FIGS. 1 B and 5A) when the reel reel 16 is operated by a user. It is pointed out that although the elongated cord 14 is moved in and out of the housing 12 using the reel reel 16, in alternative aspects the elongated cord 14 can be moved into the housing 12 using a winding mechanism loaded with a spring. - while pulling the elongated cord 14 into the housing 12. The elongated line 14 can be pulled out of the housing 12 by a user pulling, for example, on a hook 28 fixed to one end of the elongated cord 14 (for example, fixed to a distal end of the elongated cord 14). This can be facilitated by the user pushing inward on the biased hub portion 26, as will be described later. In yet another alternative aspect, the elongate cord 14 can be wound or unwound using a small motor-operated battery attached to and / or inside the housing 12.

The housing 12 can be formed of a plastic, and another suitable material, and optionally includes an overmolded cover 32 made, for example, of an elastomeric material, on a side surface to facilitate easy fastening by a user. The cover 32 may also optionally include one or more corrugations or slots 32a-32c for easy fastening.

With reference to FIG. 1 B, another view of the chalk box 10 with movable cover 18 in an open position to expose the opening 40 in the housing 12 is shown. In one embodiment of the disclosure, the opening 40 has an area of at least 8.87 square centimeters (1 3/8 square inches). For example, in one embodiment, the opening 40 has a length of 2.54 centimeters and a width of 8.87 centimeters, or vice versa. In another embodiment, the opening 40 is greater than 12.90 square centimeters (2 square inches). In another embodiment, the opening 40 is greater than 12.90 square centimeters (3 square inches). In another embodiment, the opening is greater than 25.81 square centimeters (4 square inches). As shown in FIG. 5A, line 14 generally has an extended portion 14a that extends generally tangentially from the spool 54, and a rolled portion 14b which is wound on the spool 54. In some instances, the cord 14 can be broken such that the line 14 is taken completely contained within the housing 12. The opening 40 in the housing 12 is placed and sized to allow a user to manually engage with a finger (or two fingers) through the opening 40, the portion 14a of the elongate cord 14 to allow the user to pull on the cord 14 and re-thread the cord through the opening 40. For example, in one embodiment, the opening 40 is dimensioned to provide the user with one or two fingers with access to a portion of the elongate cord 14 wound on the reel within the housing 12 (e.g., the portion 14b of the elongated cord 14, also shown in FIG 5A). If two-finger access is allowed, the user may puncture the portion 14b of the cord 14 that may be on the reel 54 to remove it from the housing 12 if the cord 14 is broken and wrapped on the reel 54. Additionally, the opening 40 allows chalk or other marker material is placed inside the housing 12.

In one embodiment, the elongated cord portion 14a can optionally be supported by an optional support member 38 (shown in FIGS 1B and 5A) which facilitates guiding the elongated cord 14 through the through hole or opening 30 in the cover movable 18 providing an outlet to the elongated cord 14. The support element 38 can also serve to connect the housing halves 13 and 15, as observed and described with respect to FIG. 5A. The elongated line 14 is wound on the rotatable spool 54 such that the chalk or marker material covers the portions 14a and 14b before the elongated cord 14 is pulled out of the hole 39 of the movable cover 18 to mark a surface using chalk box 10 As best seen in FIG. 1 B, the movable cover 18 may also include a reinforcing portion 44 made of a relatively harder and / or stiffer material than the elastomeric material 45 of the movable cover 18. In one embodiment, the elastomeric material 45 is overmoulded on and over. thus permanently connected to the portion forming the relatively rigid material 44 of the movable cover 18. By way of example only and not by way of limitation, the relatively rigid material is a plastic, for example, a plastic Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS). As can be appreciated from FIG. 1 B and the cross-sectional view of FIG. 8, the stiffer portion 44 of the cover 18 can be over-molded with the elastomeric or more elastic material 45 of the cover 18 (for example, in a two-injection molding process). As can be better observed in FIG. 1B, the elastomeric material 45 is molded on the top and around the rigid portion 44. In one embodiment, the elastomeric material 45 covers a complete outer surface of movable cover 18. In one embodiment, a complete periphery 47 (also referred to as a peripheral elastic portion 47) of the cover 18 is molded with a thickened portion of elastomeric material 45. The elastomeric portion thickened causing the periphery 47 to project from the more rigid portion of the cover 18 and is received within a peripheral groove 49. formed in the housing and surrounding the opening 40 within the housing 12. The peripheral elastic portion 47 and the peripheral groove 49 form a sealed interface compressing the peripheral elastic portion 47 between the cover 18 and the housing 12 when the cover 18 is secured in the housing. closed position for tight fit within slot 49. As can also be appreciated from of FIG. 1B, the projection or tab 24 is formed as an extension of the elastomeric material 45 beyond the stiffer portion structural area 44. This allows the projection 24 to be manually stretched by the user during a securing operation of the cover 18, as will be described in FIGS. 2-8. As noted above, the elastomeric material 45 can be formed from rubber, or other suitable material, while the more rigid portion 44 can be formed from plastic, for example. Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), or other suitable material. The portion 44 may include a cylindrical receptacle 46 extending into the housing 12 when the cover 18 is closed. The receptacle or recess 46 is arranged to support a seal structure 58 which helps to maintain a stable passage through the portion 14a of the elongated cord 14 through the hole 30. In addition, the seal structure 58 can serve to create a seal around the cord 14 to prevent leakage of the marker material between the cord 14 and an edge 31 surrounding the hole 30. This is achieved as a result of the narrow passage formed in the seal structure 58, which can be formed from felt or material similar to felt. The cord can pass through the narrow passage in the seal structure 58. In one embodiment, the seal structure 58 can be made of a sponge-like material and the portion 44 can be made of the same material as that used for the housing 12. A fastener 56 is optionally arranged to facilitate passage of the cord portion 14b through the passageway in the seal structure 58, although in some examples the fastener 56 may be omitted. The receptacle part 46 may be hollow to receive the seal structure 58, and includes one or more slots 70 to facilitate removal of the seal structure 58 if desired, for example, if re-threaded from a broken cord. 14 through the passageway in seal structure 58 is performed. In FIG. 1 B, the projection 24 includes the recess 37 through which the protrusion 36 passes, as described in more detail below, to form a releasable latch mechanism for the movable cover 18.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are side views and front views of chalk box 10, respectively. The elements of FIG. 2 are substantially similar to the elements shown in FIG. 1A and 1B except that a side view of the hook 28 is shown in more detail. When the chalk box is not in use, the hook 28 rests on a protrusion 88, although other mechanisms for resting the hook 28 may be used (for example, a press fastener). Alternatively, the protrusion 88 may be optional and the hook 28 may hang from the chalk box 10. With reference to FIG. 3, another view of the hook 28 is shown in detail. The hook 28 may include one or more projections 38a for attaching the elongate bead 14 to an end point, in use. Additionally, the hook 28 may include a through-hole 38c for fastening the elongated cord 14, and another hole 28b for hanging the chalk box 10, for example, on a nail in a wall for storage. Alternatively, the hole 28b may also be used to secure the elongate bead 14 to a projection member or workpiece where it is more appropriate than the projections 28a. The hole 28b can also be used to attach the hook 28 to the housing 12 on the protrusion 88 (shown in FIG 2), when the chalk box 10 is not in use. FIG. 3 also illustrates an additional housing cap 22 'on one side of the housing 12 opposite to a side where the reel winder 16 is disposed on the housing cover 22. The additional cover 22' is optional and is arranged to improve the structural force of the chalk box housing 12.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the chalk box 10 with handle 20 of the reel winder 16 shown in an operational position in contrast to the "at rest" position shown in FIG. 1A, for example. In the operational position, the handle 20 is oriented away from the housing 12 for a user to grip the handle 20 and wind the reel winder 16 to rotate the reel 54 to take the cord 14 and wind it inside the reel 54. The reel reel 16 can be brought to the position shown in FIG. 4 by rotating the elongated part 17 around the fastener 17a.

Also in FIG. 4, the protrusion 36 is shown. In one embodiment, the elastic projection 24 formed on the rotatable cover 18 it can be coupled by the fingers of the user to move the cover 18 to the closed position. The projection 24, when stretched, can allow the opening 37 in the elastomeric material 45 of the cover 18 to be pulled to a position in which it can be placed on the protrusion 36 to releasably secure the cover 18 in the closed position. To release the latch, the projection 24 is stretched in a direction away from the movable cover 18 to release the release projection 24 from the protrusion 36. This will unlock or open the movable cover 18 and enable it to be moved to an open position shown , for example, in FIG. 1 B.

FIG. 5A is an exploded view of the chalk box 10 showing details of external and internal structural arrangement thereof, in accordance with one aspect of this disclosure. Starting from the left in FIG. 5A, the elongated portion 17 of the reel winder 16 includes a pair of holes 17b for receiving a fastener 17a. The fastener 17a also goes through a hole 17c in the mounting hub 26 causing the mounting hub 26 to be securely attached to the elongated portion 17 of the reel winder 16. The housing cover 22 includes a hole 22d that houses the pivot structure 19 (which includes the cylindrical portion 27 attached to the mounting hub portion 26). The pivot structure 19 also includes the gear element 60 with teeth 63 and a circular portion 62. The member 60 is received within a similarly molded hole 23a in an internal ring gear 23 rotatably received within the housing cover 22, as illustrated in FIG. 5A. Also shown are the plurality of screws 22a-22c that fit within their respective slots as shown by the corresponding dotted lines parallel to the respective major axes of the screws. In this embodiment, the screws 22a-22c extend through their respective slots, via respective receptacles 12c, 12b, and 12d, into three cylindrical fastener receiving protuberances 12e, 12f and 12g on the inner surface of a housing half. 15 to hold the housing halves 13 and 15 of the housing 12 together.

The circular portion 62 has a receptacle or rivet which receives an end of a spring 64, the spring 64 has a second end that fits inside or on a receptacle 12a formed in the housing half 13. In one embodiment, the receptacle 12a is a rivet (as shown in FIG. 5A) extending within the coils of the spring 64, although in alternative aspects, the receptacle 12a may be a slot or a recess that receives the spring 64. The receptacle 12a secures the spring 64 such that when the end of the mounting hub 26 is manually pushed inwardly, the mounting hub 26 compresses the spring 64. The receptacle 12a also serves as an axis for rotation of the pivot structure 19. The rotation of the structure of pivot 19 (by manual rotation of the handle 20 of the reel reel 16) causes rotation of the teeth 63, which engage with the correspondingly molded hole 23a in the ring gear 23, to rotate the ring gear 23, as will be appreciated also looking at FIG. 5B described below. The spring 64 is biased to normally retain the teeth 63 in an axial position in which they are aligned to engage with the hole 23a. However, the pivot structure 19 can be manually pushed in by manually pushing inward on the end of the mounting hub 26 against the spring bias 64. This axial movement of the pivot structure 19 moves the teeth 63 out of engagement with the correspondingly molded hole 23a. As a result, in this position, the rotation of the inner ring gear 23 will not cause rotation of the pivot structure 19 or of the reel winder 16. This may be desirable when the cord 14 is manually pushed out of the housing 12, so as to extending the bead, in such a way that the rotation of the reel 54 during this action does not cause rotation of the reel winder 16.

FIG. 5B shows the inner ring gear 23 with teeth 65 in more detail when facing one side of the ring gear 23 by orienting a hole 12h in the housing half 13. As best seen in FIG. 5B, the through hole 12h in the housing half 13, the teeth 74 of a gear structure 75 are adjusted through to mesh with the teeth 65 of the ring gear 23. When the rail winder 16 is rotated, the rotational movement is transferred via the pivot structure 19 to the ring gear 23. In one embodiment, during rotation of the ring gear 23, the teeth 65 of the ring gear 23 mesh with the teeth 74 of the gear structure 75 and thus rotate the gear structure 75.

Referring now to FIG. 5A, the gear structure 75 also has a disc-shaped portion 78 having an axial extension 80 that fits within a correspondingly molded hole 54a of the rotatable spool 54. The rotation of the gear structure 75 thus in turn transfers its rotational movement to the rotatable reel 54 via axial extension 80 fitted within the hole 54a.

The rotatable spool 54 is molded to have two extended discs 54a and 54b connected to one another by a central hub (hidden from view in FIG. 5A by a portion 14b of the elongated cord 14 which is wound on the central hub by the discs. 54a, 54b). The elongated cord 14 is extended in the portion 14a tangentially from the central hub. Under the application of a pulling force P on the hook 28 by a user, the portion 14a straightens and applies a rotational force to the central hub of the rail 54. The central hub of the reel 54 can thus be rotated when the line 14 is pulled .

The support member 38 extends between and is connected to the housing halves 13 and 15. The ends of the support member 38 fit within a pair of recesses or slots 38a within the housing 12, in the respective housing halves 13. 15 (only one of the pair of slots 38a being shown in FIG 5A). The element 38 can be formed of a metal or other rigid material. The portion 14b extends through the seal structure 58 made of a flexible or soft material and held in cylindrical form by the fastener 56, although other shapes may be used as may be contemplated by one skilled in the art.

The housing 12 includes one or more pivots or hinges 34 for the movable cover 18. In particular, the cover 18 has a pivot pin receiving the through hole 34a, while the housing halves 13, 15 each have receiving recesses. pivot pin 34b. A pivot pin can be inserted through the hole 34a and recess 34b to allow pivotal movement of the cover 18. As noted above, the movable cover 18 moves about or rotates around the hinge or pivot 34 between open positions and closed.

The recess 50 shown in the housing 12 houses the distal end of the handle 20 when the reel reel 16 is not in use, or when the chalk case 10 is not in use. The housing half 15 includes three cylindrical fastener receiving protrusions 12e, 12f and 12g that support the housing halves 13 and 15 by receiving screws 22a-22c, respectively. The cylindrical protuberances 12e, 12f and 12g can be configured to receive additional screws (e.g., screw 22a ') to provide additional support to secure housing halves 13 and 15 together. Additionally, a hollow cylindrical protrusion 12i formed on the inner surface of the housing half 15 supports positioning and smooth rotation of the rotatable reel 54 around. In particular, the spool 54 has a cooperative projection or recess (not shown in FIG.5A) that acts as an axis that rotatably couples with the protrusion 2i.

FIG. 6 shows an operation of moving the rotatable cover 18 to a position closed by a user. For example, the fingers of the user are shown pulling on the projection 24 in a direction A shown by an arrow to move the movable cover 18 in a direction such that the opening 37 in the cover 18 can be placed on the protrusion 36 in the housing 12. As a result, the opening 40 can be closed to seal an interior or an inner portion 72 of the housing 12.

In FIG. 7, the user pulls or stretches the projection 24 on the movable cover 18 to align the recess or hole 37 there with the protrusion 36 in the housing 12. The user pulls the projection 24 in a direction A 'shown by an arrow such that the projection 24 can secure on the protrusion 36 by stretching the projection 24 (also made of elastomeric material) forming a releasable closure arranged to releasably secure the movable cover 18 in the closed position. The elasticity of the projection 24 allows such stretching and retains the edge around the opening 37 in forced engagement. In addition, the releasable latch formed by such protrusion 36 and projection 24 is manually manipulated by the user's fingers to release the latch to allow access into the housing 12. The releasable latch formed by such protrusion arrangement 36 and projection 24 uses the opening 37 for securely sealing the chalk or marker material within the housing 12.

FIG. 8 shows an arrangement approach view of projection 24 on the movable cover 18 on the protrusion 36 on the housing 12 in the hole 37 in the projection 24. An edge 36a in the protrusion 36 inter-interlocks with the opening 37 in the projection 24, now stretched, to maintain the movable cover 18 in a closed position and avoiding leakage of chalk or marker material from within the housing 12. As a result, the movable cover 18 securely seals the chalk or marker material into the housing 12. The open and closed positions of the movable cover 18 selectively allow or prevent access to the inner portion 72 of the housing 12 through the opening 40.

It is noted that although in this example, particular shapes and sizes of various chalk box elements 10 are described, one skilled in the art after reading this description may contemplate other shapes and sizes of various chalk box components 10. For example, various holes and gears can be square or other appropriate geometric cross section shapes and can be made larger or smaller. In one example, the marker material may be in a powder form. Alternatively, the marker material may be a fluid material (e.g., a liquid, a paste, or the like) that may be placed within the housing 12 when the movable cover 18 is in an open position.

Although aspects of the chalk box 10 have been described in detail for the purpose of illustration, it is understood that such detail is only for that purpose and that the description is not limited to the aspects described, but, on the contrary, is intended In order to cover modifications and equivalent provisions that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, it is further understood that the present disclosure contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of some aspect may be combined with one or more features of any other aspect

Claims (24)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A chalk box, comprising: a housing with an opening; a rotatable spool disposed within the housing; an elongated cord arranged to be wound on the spool; a reel winder arranged to rotate the reel to wind the cord on the reel; a movable cover mounted to the housing and movable between an open position and a closed position, the cover when open allows a powder or fluid marker material to be placed within the housing through the opening in the housing, the movable cover comprising an elastomeric material and a relatively rigid material, the elastomeric material allowing the cover to seal with the housing when the cover is closed to prevent leakage of the marker material in an interface between the movable cover and the housing; and a releasable latch disposed to releasably secure the cover in the closed position, the releasable latch being manually manipulated by the user's fingers to release the latch to allow access into the housing through the aperture, and wherein the elastomeric material is overmolded onto. and thus permanently connected to the relatively rigid material of the movable cover.

2 - . 2 - The chalk box according to claim 1, further characterized in that the opening in the housing is the only access to the reservoir of the marker material within the housing, and wherein the opening is large enough to provide the user with finger access to the cord wound on the spool within the housing.

3. - The chalk box according to claim 2, further characterized in that the opening has an area of at least 8.87 square centimeters (1 3/8 square inches).

4. - The chalk box according to claim 2, further characterized in that both (a) an access to the reel and (b) depositing the marker material within the housing can be accomplished in a one-step process of opening the movable cover.

5. - The chalk box according to claim 1, further characterized in that the movable cover is pivotally mounted to the housing.

6. - The chalk box according to claim 1, further characterized in that the cover is the only cover provided in the housing.

7. - The chalk box according to claim 1, further characterized in that the elastomeric material covers a complete external surface of the cover.

8. - The chalk box according to claim 1, further characterized in that a projection portion of the elastomeric material on the cover forms a manually engageable tab that facilitates an opening of the cover.

9. - The chalk box according to claim 1, further characterized in that the releasable latch comprises a protrusion formed on the housing and a recess formed on the cover.

10. - The chalk box according to claim 1, further characterized in that the cover comprises a hole through which the elongated cord extends from the inside to the outside of the housing.

11. - The chalk box according to claim 1, further characterized in that the relatively rigid material is a plastic.

12. - The chalk box according to claim 11, further characterized in that the plastic is a plastic Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS).

13. - A chalk box, comprising: a housing having an opening; a movable cover fixed to the housing, the movable cover arranged to move between an open position and a closed position to selectively allow or prevent access to an interior of the housing through the opening; a reel rotatable inside the housing; and a roller cord having a portion thereof wound on the reel and another portion thereof extending through a hole in the movable cover towards the outer side of the housing, wherein the opening in the housing is positioned and sized to allow the user to manually engage the portion of the cord wound on the reel through it when the cover is in the open position, the opening also allowing the chalk or other material marker is placed inside the housing through it when it is in the open position.

14. - The chalk box according to claim 13, further characterized in that the movable cover is pivotally fixed to the housing to move between the open and closed positions.

15. - The chalk box according to claim 14, further characterized in that the movable cover comprises an elastomeric material, the elastomeric material comprising a projection that can be manually stretched by the fingers of the user on a protuberance in the housing to allow the cover Movable is secured in the closed position.

16. - The chalk box according to claim 15, further characterized in that the cover further comprises a relatively rigid reinforcing material fixed to the elastomeric material.

17. - The chalk box according to claim 13, further characterized in that the cover comprises an opening through it that provides an outlet for the cord.

18. - The chalk box according to claim 13, further characterized in that at least a portion of the housing is covered with the elastomeric material for mechanical protection of the housing and to allow the user to hold the housing on one or more slots provided on the material elastomeric on the housing portion.

19. - The chalk box according to claim 13, further characterized in that it additionally comprises a reel reel, the reel reel including a handle mounted on the outside of the reel, the reel reel, in use, arranged to wind or unwind the reel. reel to vary a cord length outside the housing.

20. - The chalk box according to claim 13, further characterized in that it additionally comprises a hook fixed to a distal end of the cord.

21. - The chalk box according to claim 13, further characterized in that the opening has an area of at least 8.87 square centimeters (1 3/8 square inches).

22. - A chalk box, comprising: a housing with an opening; a rotatable spool disposed within the housing; an elongated cord arranged to be wound on the spool; a reel winder arranged to rotate the reel to wind the cord on the reel; a pivotable cover mounted to the housing and movable between an open position and a closed position, the pivotable cover having an opening therethrough to provide an outlet for the cord, the pivotable cover when open allows a powder or marker material of fluid is placed inside the housing through the opening in the housing; and a releasable latch arranged to releasably secure the cover in the closed position, the releasable latch being manually manipulated by the fingers of a user to release the latch to allow access into the housing.

23. - The chalk box according to claim 22, further characterized in that the release latch comprises an elastic tongue formed on the cover, the elastic tongue having an opening that can receive a protuberance formed on the housing.

24. - The chalk box according to claim 22, further characterized in that the pivotable cover comprises an elastomeric material allowing the cover to seal with the housing when the cover is closed to prevent a leakage of the marker material at an interface between the movable cover and accommodation